Family Name: Houbigant
First Name: Charles-François
Birth Date: 1684
Birth Place: Paris
Death Date: Wed, Oct 29, 1783
Death Place: Paris
Main places of activity:
Place From
Marseille 1713
Place From
Paris 1720
Personal info:
Education

First educated at the Jesuit college Louis-le-Grand in Paris, he then completed his studies in philosophy at the college administered by the congrégation de l'Oratoire in Juilly, Seine-et-Marne.
Career

On the 31th of October 1704, he entered the congrégation de l'Oratoire in Paris, from which he was sent to teach in different institutions: he taught humanities in Juilly, rhetoric in Marseille from 1715 and eventually philosophy in Soissons.

In 1722 he was back in Paris and nominated head of the jansenist-oriented Conference of Church Antiquities and Discipline of St-Magloire, where he probably dedicated himself to the formation of priests and scholars alike. Due to a severe illness, Houbigant however lost his sense of hearing and was forced to quit his post.

He eventually obtained the scholarship in Biblical studies founded by Louis de Carrières, and devoted the rest of his life to the study of oriental languages.
Translations Other Works

translations activities

As a seminary teacher, Houbigant recommended the usage of original Latin and Greek versions of classics and dogmatic texts rather than reading French translations, taking a clear position in the related querelle that raged in XVIIIth century France. He however accepted a compromise between strictly literal translations and elegant editions, more faithful to the taste of his times.

After losing his hearing, he learned Hebrew embracing the method and guidance of François Masclef, whose new grammar excluded vowel points and focused on the Masoric text of the Bible. This attempt to develop a simplified alternative in Hebrew philology did not succeed, although Houbigant's translations contain some suggestions that are still relevant today.

His correspondence with British authors led him to learn English and translate some religious and theological works.


secondary bibliography references

Charles L. Souvay, 'Houbigant, Charles-François', in Charles Hebermann, ed., The Catholic Encyclopedia, 15 vols., VII, RAC, New York, 1910, pp. 498-499.

Mireille Hadas-Lebel, 'Le Père Houbigant et la critique textuelle', in Y. Belaval and D. Bourel, eds., Le siècle des Lumières et la Bible, Paris, Éditions Beauchesne, 1986, pp. 103-112.

Filippo Sani, ed., Educazione e retorica nell'età delle "Querelles". Charles-François Houbigant e il "De la manière d'Etudier et d'Enseigner", Milan, Vita e Pensiero, 2003.

Bertram Eugene Swarzbach, 'Geddes in France', in William Johnstone, ed., The Bible and the Enlightenment: A Case Study: Alexander Geddes 1737-1802, New York, A&C Black, 2004, pp. 78-115.

John Rogerson, 'Charles-François Houbigant: His Background, Work and Importance for Lowth', in John Jarick, ed., Sacred Conjectures: The Context and Legacy of Robert Lowth and Jean Astruc, New York, T&T Clark, 2007, pp. 83-92.


Translations

  • Book of Psalms

  • Translation Title: Sive Psalmi Hebraici mendis quam plurimis expurgati
  • Original Author: Anonymous
  • Original title: Book of Psalms
  • Publ. Year From: -0001 to:
  • lang: Hebrew
  • Translation: Sive Psalmi Hebraici mendis quam plurimis expurgati
  • Publisher: Privately published?
  • N° Editions: 3
  • Pub. Place: Avilly?
  • Pub. Date: 1742
  • Lang: Latin
  • Note:

    The 1743 edition bears the imprint "LUGD. BAT.", suggesting it was printed in Leiden, but was most likely printed by Houbigant in Avilly. Another edition under the title Psalmorum versio vulgata, et versio nova ad Hebraicam veritatem facta appeared in Paris in 1746 and again in 1755.

  • Hebrew Bible

  • Translation Title: Biblia Hebraica cum notis criticis et versione Latina ad notas criticas facta. Accedunt libri Graeci, qui deutero-canonici vocantur, in tres classes distributi
  • Original Author: Anonymous
  • Original title: Hebrew Bible
  • Publ. Year From: -0001 to:
  • lang: Hebrew
  • Title: Biblia Hebraica
  • Pub. Place: Amsterdam
  • Pub. Year: 1704
  • Lang: Hebrew
  • Note:
  • Translation: Biblia Hebraica cum notis criticis et versione Latina ad notas criticas facta. Accedunt libri Graeci, qui deutero-canonici vocantur, in tres classes distributi
  • Publisher: Antoine-Claude Briasson
  • Pub. Place: Paris
  • Pub. Date: 1752
  • Lang: Latin
  • Note:

    Houbigant used van der Hoogt's Hebrew and Greek texts, although suggesting his own personal corrections at the end of each chapter. In the facing-page Latin translation he incorporated his amendments. In 1753, Houbigant's translation was published separately in Paris as Veteris Testamenti versio nova ad Hebraicam veritatem facta.

  • Several discourses prached [sic.] at the Temple Church

  • Translation Title: Sermons de M. Sherlock, evêque de Londres
  • Original Author: Thomas Sherlock
  • Original title: Several discourses prached [sic.] at the Temple Church
  • Publ. Year From: 1763 to:
  • lang: English
  • Note:

    While Sherlock's collected sermons were printed several times in the 1750s, the 14 discourses contained in this edition match those in Houbigant's French edition.
  • Translation: Sermons de M. Sherlock, evêque de Londres
  • Publisher: Benoit Duplain
  • Pub. Place: Lyon
  • Pub. Date: 1767
  • Lang: French

  • The Whole Works of Duncan Forbes, Now First Collected. Containing: Thoughts on religion, natural and revealed. A letter to a bishop, concerning some important discoveries in philosophy and theology. Reflections on the sources of incredulity with regard to religion

  • Translation Title: Ouvrages de feu Mr. Forbes, lord-président des Assises d'Edimbourg, contenants des pensées sur la religion naturelle et révélée ; une lettre à un évêque ; des reflexions sur l'incrédulité
  • Original Author: Duncan Forbes, Lord Culloden
  • Original title: The Whole Works of Duncan Forbes, Now First Collected. Containing: Thoughts on religion, natural and revealed. A letter to a bishop, concerning some important discoveries in philosophy and theology. Reflections on the sources of incredulity with regard to religion
  • Publ. Year From: 1754 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Ouvrages de feu Mr. Forbes, lord-président des Assises d'Edimbourg, contenants des pensées sur la religion naturelle et révélée ; une lettre à un évêque ; des reflexions sur l'incrédulité
  • Publisher: Louis-Joseph Berthoud
  • Pub. Place: Lyon
  • Pub. Date: 1768
  • Lang: French

  • Some thoughts concerning religion, natural and revealed, and the manner of understanding revelation: tending to shew that Christianity is, indeed very near, as old as the creation

  • Translation Title: Les pensées de M. Forbes sur la religion naturelle et révélée
  • Original Author: Duncan Forbes, Lord Culloden
  • Original title: Some thoughts concerning religion, natural and revealed, and the manner of understanding revelation: tending to shew that Christianity is, indeed very near, as old as the creation
  • Publ. Year From: 1734 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Les pensées de M. Forbes sur la religion naturelle et révélée
  • Publisher: J. P. Costard
  • Pub. Place: Paris
  • Pub. Date: 1769
  • Lang: French

  • The theological works of the Reverend Mr. Charles Leslie. In two volumes

  • Translation Title: Ouvrages de M. Lesley, contre les déistes et les juifs, avec des défenses, et un traité du jugement particulier et de l'autorité en matière de foi
  • Original Author: Charles Leslie
  • Original title: The theological works of the Reverend Mr. Charles Leslie. In two volumes
  • Publ. Year From: 1720 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Ouvrages de M. Lesley, contre les déistes et les juifs, avec des défenses, et un traité du jugement particulier et de l'autorité en matière de foi
  • Publisher: A-M Lottin
  • Pub. Place: Paris
  • Pub. Date: 1769
  • Lang: French
  • Note:

    The title includes "traduits de l'anglais sur la VIIe édition" and in the Préface Houbigant mentions an edition in octavo as his source, listing its contents. The first original volume of Leslie's works comes close to Houbigant's list, but contains more of the former's compositions, arranged differently. The source referred to is not to be found.

calamaio

By:

  • Giovanni Lista